Social Studies Lesson: Census and its important

Population census can be defined as the periodic or simultaneous house-to-house headcount of the people living in a particular territory within a particular period of time. In other words, it is the official counting of people in a society.

By 1952, Nigeria had a total population of 55.7 million, while the 1973 census was cancelled because the figures were politicised and grossly inflated for political benefits.

The 1991 census gave a rough estimate of 88.5 million people, while the 2006 census declared Nigeria 140 million strong. Based on these factors, the Nigerian population has been increasing steadily.

Census count is done every 10 years in Nigeria. Nigeria is the largest country in Africa in terms of population.

Nigerian population is predominantly rural. About 70% live in rural areas, while the urban-based population, which was at a time 30%, has been increasing over time due to rural/urban migration.

The importance of population census economically, socially, and politically is not in doubt. It will be unwise for a government not to know the number of people under its care.

Therefore:

1. The population census determines the size of the population.
2. It reveals the available manpower in the country.
3. It reveals the number of supposed pupils/students and other dependants, e.g., infants and the aged.
4. It helps in the formulation of economic policies and distribution of social infrastructure, and so on.
5. It is used to assess the standard of living of the citizenry.
6. It reveals the number of aliens in the community.
7. It determines the population density of a community, i.e., the number of people per square kilometre.
8. It answers questions as to which community is more populated than the other, e.g., sparsely populated, populated, and densely populated areas.
   
   

Collecting accurate census data and figures has been a continuous problem in Nigerian polity. Reasons adduced to these problems are as follows:

1. Inflation of census figure due to political benefits.
2. Transportation: Most areas are not accessible to the enumerators.
3. Traditional cultures: In some cultures, it is forbidden or taboo
   to count one's children.
4. Religious doctrine: Some religions in Nigeria forbid women's coming out to be counted, especially in the northern part of Nigeria.
5. The enumerators are not given enough orientation as regards the importance of census.
   
   

Migration can be defined as the voluntary or involuntary movement of people from one locality to another. Migration can be in two forms: Immigration and Emigration

Emmigration stands for the number of people moving out of a particular geographical region, while the inward movement is referred to as Immigration.

Migration can be caused by a number of reasons. These include the following:

1. The need for better agricultural, lumbering, and mining lands.
2. The search for employment, better jobs, and business opportunities.
3. The need to enjoy social infrastructure, like electricity and education.
4. Political disturbances and war can cause some people to migrate.
5. Natural disasters, e.g., pestilence, earthquakes, floods, etc. can lead to migration.

The resultant effect of migration are:

1. It provides a change of environment and culture, and thereby widens people's horizon or outlook on life, as travelling is part of education.
2. Migration encourages cultural unity, trade, and international understanding.
3. It can ease over-population.
4. Economic development can be affected by emigration.

Thank you for reading to the end and I hope you have learn something. Please drop your feedback in the comment section.